Propeller for boats.



P. J. MILLER;

PROPELLER FOR BOATS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1913.

1,095,344. Patented May 5, 1914.

PETER J. MILLER, or PECK, IDAHO.

PROPELLER FOR BOATS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yeck, in the county of Nez Perce, State of Idaho, have-invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers for Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention is directed to improvements in propellers for boats, and has for its object to provide a device of this character so constructed that a boat can be propelled in shallow water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construct-ion, practical, durable and one which is inexpensive and effective in operation.

lVith these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boat, showing the propeller in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1, showing one of the paddles in the act of feathering. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the boat showing the propeller in place thereon. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line ll of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the hull of a boat, to the opposite sides of which are attached stufiing boxes 2, and in which operate shafts 3, the upper end of which extends interiorly of the hull 1, while the lower end extends exteriorly thereof and is engaged in a bracket 4, which brackets are attached to the outer surface of the sides of the hull, similar brackets 5 being provided for the upper ends of the shafts 3. Connected to the lower ends of the shafts 3 are horizontal bearings 6 in which are rotatably mounted shafts 7 and to the opposite ends of which are connected paddles 3, the same being disposed at right angles to each other. Ih'e paddles engage, as they pass under the bottom of the hull, the curved tracks 9, and by arranging the paddles at right angles to each other, the paddles traveling under the hull will be disposed horizontally so as to Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914. Serial No. 770,485.

offer the least resistance to the water, while the paddles working beyond the sides of the hull will be disposed vertically so as to obtain the desired purchase in the water so as to propel the boat. Bolted to the sides of the hull above the stuffing boxes 2 are plates 10, to which are pivotally connected bars 11, said bars having rising therefrom levers 12, the same being adapted to rock the bars 11 to shift the links 13 which have their upper ends pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the bars 11, said links being disposed. vertically and operating in guides 1 f which are connected to the sides of the hull. The lower ends of the links are provided with anti-friction rollers 15 which are adapted to engage the inner ends of the paddles 8, which are provided with wear bands 16, thereby feathering the paddles as they are about to pass under the bottom of the hull.

In Fig. lof the drawing, the links are shown in positions assumed when the boat is traveling forwardly, and it is obvious that should it be desired to reverse the travel of the boat the travel of the shaft 3 is reversed and the lever 12 moved forwardly thus shifting the links 13, and thereby feathering the paddles in the proper direction. Assuming that the shaft 3 is rotating in a direct-ion to propel the boat forwardly it is obvious that the links occupying the lowermost positions will be so disposed that the inner ends of the paddles will engage the anti-friction rollers 15 carried thereby, thus feathering the paddles so that they will pass under the bottom of the hull so that upon continued rotation of the shaft 3 the paddles will assume a horizontal position as they pass under the bottom of the hull until 7 the other paddles engage the anti-friction rollers, which thus alternately feather thepaddles as they pass beneath and from under the bottom of the hull.

It is obvious that a propelling mechanism constructed in accordance with the foregoing description can be driven by hand or motor as deemed desirable.

What is claimed is In a propelling mechanism for boats, the combination with a driving shaft supported by the side of the boat, a bearing connected to the lower end of the shaft, a horizontal shaft journaled in said bearing and. having paddles connected to its opposite ends and arranged at right angles to each other, a bar pivotally connected to the side of the boat, 1 friction rollers carried by the link to feather 10 a lever for rocking said bar, links having the paddles as they pass beneath the bottom their upper ends pivotally connected to the of the boat. opposite ends of said bar, anti-friction roll- In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa- 5 ers carried by the loWer ends of said links ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

one of said links being adapted to have its PETER J. MILLER. lower end arranged in the line of travel of the paddles upon rocking said bar, whereby the paddles will alternately engage the antilVitnesses OLNEY S. PEARSON, JOHN W. BLOODSWORTI-I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

